2023 Season

The Dignity Circle

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a new scheme by Lauren Smerkanich
Produced in: 2023

EXTENDED THRU JULY 30!
FINAL PERFORMANCE IS TODAY AT 5:00 pm
Only a few seats are left!

World Premiere #71: from the Central Works Writers Workshop

You deserve it … for a small fee

What would you do if I handed you forty thousand dollars?  That’s the question Angela poses to a gathering of women at an introductory Empowerment Session.  What she offers them is independence, community, fun, wealth, and perhaps above all—dignity.  Judith finds Angela’s offer irresistible, and joins The Dignity Circle.  And it seems like Angela’s promises are all coming true.  But to move up the ladder in the organization, Judith must recruit a new member into the circle.  When she brings Heather in, the new recruit begins to question Angela’s motives, and all she promises to those who join.  What’s really going on in The Dignity Circle?

In the event of a fully reserved performance,
the waitlist starts at the box office 30 minutes before curtain time.

The Dignity Circle is a SF Chronicle Datebook Pick!

 

The SF Bay Area Theater Critics’ Circle says “Go See” The Dignity Circle!

Acting Ensemble:
Heather Kellogg Baumann
Dov Hassan*
Sierra Marcks*
Rebecca Pingree
Kimberly Ridgeway

Adam Roy

Stage Management: Natalia Rivera-Ramos
Costume design: Tammy Berlin
Sound design: Gregory Scharpen

* appears through the courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

 


Lauren Smerkanich
(playwright), a graduate of The Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, is a writer-director currently based in Los Angeles. Recent honors include placing as a Semi-Finalist (GIGI INHERITS FOUR MINK COATS) and Second-Rounder (BOIL) in the 2021 Austin Film Festival Playwriting Competition. Recent favorite credits include writing and directing A GLASS OF WINE for Animal House’s Backyard Plays series, and assistant directing on POOR CLARE at The Echo Theater Company (winner “Best Production,” 20-21 LA Drama Critics Circle Awards). Additionally, Lauren has recently participated in a writing residency at The Writer’s Colony in Eureka Springs, AR, and is a Guest Teaching Artist with The Atlantic Theater Company’s Access Success Program. She is thrilled and grateful to have THE DIGNITY CIRCLE produced by Central Works Theater.

“What would you do if I handed you forty thousand dollars?” That’s the question Angela (Sierra Marcks*) poses to a gathering of women at an introductory Empowerment Session in The Dignity Circle.

Central Works presents world premiere #71: The Dignity Circle by Lauren Smerkanich, June 24 – July 23 at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Avenue, Berkeley.

Photo by Robbie Sweeny
* appears through the courtesy of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

Judith (Rebecca Pingree-l) runs into her old highschool friend, Heather (Kimberly Ridgeway-r), at the local grocery and invites her to join the Dignity Circle Empowerment Sessions.

Central Works presents world premiere #71: The Dignity Circle by Lauren Smerkanich, June 24 – July 23 at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Avenue, Berkeley.

Photo by Robbie Sweeny

Kate C. (Heather Kellogg Baumann) attends the Dignity Circle Empowerment Sessions in search of fun, wealth, and perhaps above all, dignity…for a small fee.

Central Works presents world premiere #71: The Dignity Circle by Lauren Smerkanich, June 24 – July 23 at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Avenue, Berkeley.

Photo by Robbie Sweeny

Judith’s husband Scott (Adam Roy) is jealous of the time she’s spending with Angela.  And skeptical of her motives; what’s really going on in The Dignity Circle?

Central Works presents world premiere #71: The Dignity Circle by Lauren Smerkanich, June 24 – July 23 at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Avenue, Berkeley.

More photos HERE

Photo by Robbie Sweeny

“With a small but excellent cast,…director Gary Graves makes this creative and engrossing drama come alive.” -E. Mendel,Berkeleyside

“A talented ensemble and Gary Graves’ astute direction bring out Smerkanich’s objectives and deftly navigate her interesting, complex characters.” -S. Hogarty, East Bay Times

“The Dignity Circle engages us from the first words spoken…” -P. Morin, Theatrius

“The Dignity Circle is an intelligent, well-written, challenging and stage-worthy play.” -C. Kruger, TheatreStorm

The Dignity Circle “is entertaining all along the way.”  -J. Schiffman, SF Gate

“Powerful acting, astute direction, and effective lighting…” -E. Reynold, TheatreEddys

“Smerkanich’s story is swift and compact…Central Works makes it a lot of fun to watch.” -C. Lewis, 48 Hills

Read the program HERE

Listen to the CW Script Club

Resident playwright Patricia Milton discusses the script & and production with playwright Lauren Smerkanich and resident sound designer Greg Scharpen!

Click here to download the script.

Click here to hear other CW Script Club episodes.

more photos:


Angela (Sierra Marks*) at home with husband Parker (Dov Hassan*)

 


Rebecca Pingree as Judith in her Dignity Circle mask

 


Heather Kellogg Baumann as Kate C.

 


Kimberly Ridgeway as Heather

 


Sierra Marcks* as Judith in The Dignity Circle

* appears through the courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.